friday bliss.

"It is often in the darkest
skies that we see the
brightest stars."
— Richard Evans

 Happy Friday! 

Today Mr. D told me that "my bad moods don't last long...

they are strong sometimes, but never long." 

There was definitely a point the night before, when I was still covered in

blotchy red hives and almost every inch of my body was aching, that I found myself 

in a complete disarray. 

I was crying for a reason I can't even remember - sobbing maybe -

[crying on top of an already bad cold does not mix well]

When Mr. D swooped me up in his arms with a smile.

He knows just how to calm me down while confirming my fear 

that I'm shedding pointless tears without making me feel crazy.

And somehow managing to make me feel beautiful all along.

[which blows my mind, because apparently hives and tears don't mix well either!!!]

Beauty found in gray skies is, in my opinion, the brightest of all.

[Its hard to be in a bad mood on a Friday afternoon anyway]

 photo found here from downtownfrombehind.

chevron stripes, new coats and rice pudding.

"Feathers filled the small room. Our laughter kept the feathers in the air. I thought about birds. Could they fly is there wasn't someone, somewhere, laughing?" — Jonathan Safran Foer (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) 

 I do not believe I have ever been as happy as I am today. It is most definitely not because I had a good weekend. Or because its Monday. Its definitely not because I woke up two hours before my alarm this morning or because of the cloudy sky. It absolutely has nothing to do with my box or the way my non-apple work computer screen glows. It has nothing to do with this afternoon's meeting or an oncall shift that has a 98% chance of being called. 

It does have a tiny bit to do with chevron stripes and a brand new jacket from mr. d...oh and the most delicious rice pudding from a couple of blocks down the street. Mostly though, its because happiness doesnt come in the shape of a box or a weather report. It cant be made or bought. But it is so sweet to be found...and I am oh so thankful for it.

Actions speak louder than words but sometimes words are quite more than enough.

frost.

"We can know only that we know nothing. 

And that is the highest degree of human wisdom."
— Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace) 

 Sunday comprised of a terrible 24 hours that felt more like 100

with an aftermath that left my face both swollen and numb all of Monday.

Like morning frost on branches tangled

assuredly melting away at the first touch of the sun's stretching rays

but for now frozen stiff just the same.

Yet, if I make myself pause long enough 

to consciously be thankful for every circumstance, every moment breathed

the blessings are overwhelming - too many to count.

My dad is in the hospital today.

Praying for the best possible outcome and speedy recovery.

photos by THE annette pehrsson.

one of many conclusions.

While I want for this space to be real and honest, there are some things that I just can't talk about on here. All things surrounding work for one. But I will say this, more than ever before I am in awe of relationships. How people love and what they need to flourish. And subsequently, why relationships fail. Today my eyes have been widened and I feel like walking around all day just interviewing people on this very topic. 

So far, this is the conclusion I have come to in regard to making relationships work: 

You must have friendship and forgiveness. For a good friendship, you must communicate and to truly love, you must forgive. 

photo here.